Metallurgical furnace



Oct. 16, 1928.

A. J. BRIGGS METALLURGICAL FURNACE Filed Oct. 16. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR #erwazffie/ a m BY ATTORNEY Oct. 16, 1928. 1,687,925

A. J. BRIGGS METALLURGICAL FURNACE Filed 001;. l6, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR fier /az 4 i fle ggs v BY MM i ma till Patented met- 16, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR. J. BRIGGS, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T 0 NOND-AGA STEEL GOM- PANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METALLURGICAL FURNACE.

Application filed October 16, 1926. Serial No. 141,912.

This invention relates to metallurgical furnaces, and more particularly to furnaces for the production of wrought iron, constructed to be revolved or oscillated. The invention aims to provide an improved cylindrical furs have of the revolving or oscillating type, in which the use of peril'iheral doors will be obviated, together with the inconveniences and undue expenditure of time incidental thereto.

The improved furnace of the invention is of a cylindrical form, having a door or closing nieniberat each end. or at least at one of its ends. In pursuance of the invention, 1 provide means whereby one of these doors may be opened and moved to one side, in order to facilitate charging and discharging of the furnace, and the manipulation of balls of iron during the puddling process. A siinilardoor may be provided atcthe opposite end of the furnace, also having means for withdrawing it in a horizontal direction. The working chamber or the furnace revolves about these doors as an axis. Electrodes, or other means of supplying heat are preferably inserted through the doors through apertures provided for this purpose.

A more clear conception of the objects and operation of the invention may be had from the following specification, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figures 1 and 2 are front and side elevations, respectively, of the furnace.

Thefurnace disclosed in the drawing is of a cylindrical forinand is mounted on an appropriate foundation 1, andbeains 2. The furnace proper consists of a steel drum 3, lined with tire brick, 4.

Each end of the drum is titted with an auiiular track 5. The track 5 at the front of the furnace is mounted on flanged rollers 6, while track 5 at the rear; of the furnace is mounted on flanged rollers 7 one of which serves as a driving roller. being rotated by means of a suitable motor. such as/8, through a gear 2 and shaft 10. The controlling means (not shown) of the motor may be preferably mounted at or near the front of the furnace. The front and rear walls are provided with apertures such as 11, which are placed at the axis of the cylinder. These apertures are closed by means of circular doors 12 and 13. The apertures have a metal lining 1 1.

which engagesa sleeve 15 on each of the doors. The centers of these doors inside of the sleeve 15 are lined with tire brick similar to that used on thewalls of the furnace. 1n the upper center portion of each door is a water jacketed opening 16, through which an electrode, or other suitable heating means, may be introduced into the furnace.

Door 13, although removable, may be ordinarily left. permanently in place. A supporting framework carries an I-beain, 18, which provides a track on which a trolley 19 is free to move to and from the furnace, this trolley being provided with a holder 20, in which electrode 21 is clamped. A similar trolley and holder is provided for electrode 22, which enters door 12 through a water jacketeld opening 16, similar to that in door 13.

12 is mounted on afraine 23, as shown in Fig ure 2, said frame in turn being pivoted to a trolley 24, which runs on a track 25 supported by suitable means, (not shown) above the end or" the furnace, and extending transversely to its axis of rotation. Mounted on the frame 28 is a counterweight 29, which is sutlicieiitly heavy to balancethe weight of door 12, and allow it to be opened manually. At the bottom of frame 23 is a roller 26, which rests in a channelled track 27, when the door is closed. A door 30 is provided in door 12 through which the furnace operator niav observe the operation of the furnace. N

lVhen the furnace is in operation, having pursuance of the invention, the doorbeen charged, the doors 12 and 13 are both by means of motor 8. The doors 12 and 13 act as an axis about which the furnace revplves. thereby leaving the electrodes stationary. After the charge has reached the desired temperature, the electrode 22 is backed out until its tip is nearly flush with the door The frame 23 with its sup ported parts balanced by weight 29, is swung outwardly. drawing door 12 out of aperture 11. the roller 26 being guided by the. than: nelled track 27. until the roller passes out on to track 28. The door 12 can nowbe moved to one side by means of trolley 24. and roller 26, leaving the opening 11 clear for the prid (ller to introduce the puddling bar and work the metal in a manner well known to the art.

It is apparent that means may be provided for mounting a door similar to 12 in place of tltl I ripheral doors as greater degree. This type of furnace having a door at one or both ends which may be easily and accurately removed and replaced with respect to the furnace greatly increases the efficiency and speed of operation as compared with the type of furnace having pehas, heretofore been the practice.

I claim:

' 1. A metallurgical furnace comprising a rotata y mounted cylindrical working chamber, having an end opening, a relatively stationary door adapted to substantially close said opening, said door having an opening through which heating means may be advanced into or Withdrawn from said chamber, means for permitting the rotation of said chamber about said door as an axis and means for withdrawing said door from said end opening and swinging it laterally away from said opening.

2. A metallurgical furnace comprising a rotatably mounted cylindrical working chamber, having openings in the ends thereof, relatively stationary doors adapted to enter and substantially close said openings, each of said doors having an opening through which heating means may be passed and means for moving one of said doors along the axis of said chamber, and also in a direction transversely of the axis of said charns ber, comprising a carriage for said heating device, a track on which said carriage may run relatively to said door, a frame by which said door and track are supported, a carriage for said frame, and a track on which said frame-carriage may run.

3. A metallurgical furnace, comprising a rotatably mounted cylindrical working chamber, having an opening in an end thereof, a relatively stationary door adapted to substantially close said opening, a frame fastened to said door and an overhead track provided with a trolley on which said frame is pivoted for moving said door in a direction transversely of the axis of said chamber.

4. A metallurgical furnace, comprising a rotatably mounted cylindrical working chamber, having an opening in the end thereof, a relatively non-rotatable door adapted to substantially close said opening, said door being mounted on a frame pivotally conneeted at its top to an overhead trolley, and having at its bottom a roller adapted to engage a track mounted transversely to the axis of said chamber and said trolley, and said roller being used for moving said door in a direction transverse to said axis.

5. A metallurgical furnace, comprising a rotatably mounted cylindrical working chamber, having an opening in the end thereof, a door adapted to substantially close said opening, said chamber being rotatable about said door as an axis, a frame for carrying said door, said frame being hung on a trolley and having a roller near its lower portion; and a track having a portion extending along the axis of said furnace, and a portion extending transversely to said axis, whereby said roller, when engaged with said track ortions respectively, is guided to swing sai frame and door first outwardly and then laterally away from said end opening.

6. A metallurgical furnace, comprising a rotatably mounted cylindrical working chamber, having an opening in the end thereof, a relatively stationary door adapted to enter and substantially close said opening, said door being mounted on a frame having a counterweightto balance said door in its movements to and from said opening.

7. A metallurgical furnace, comprising a rotatably mounted cylindrical working chamber, having an opening in an end thereof, a door adapted to enter and close said end opening, a balanced supporting frame constituting a unitary structure with said door, and upon which said door may be swung into and out of said end opening, and means to support said balanced frame inovably in a transverse direction to clear said end opening.

8. A metallurgical furnace, comprising a rotatably mounted cylindrical working chamber, having an opening in an end thereof, a door adapted to enter and close said end epening, a balanced supporting frame constituting a unitary structure with said door, and upon which said door may be swung into and out of said opening, and means to support said balanced frame movably in a transverse direction to clear said end opening, said balanced frame being provided also with means to support a device adapted to introduce heat to said furnace through said door.

9. A metallurgical furnace, comprising a rotatably mounted cylindrical working chamber, having an opening in an end thereof, a door adapted to enter and close said end opening, a balanced supporting frame con- 'stituting a. unitary structure with said door,

and upon which said door may be swung into and out of said opening, and means to sup port said balanced frame movably in a transverse direction to clear said end opening, said balanced frame being provided also with means to supporting a device adapted to introduce heat to said furnace through said door, said support for said heating means being mounted upon a trolley running upon a track carried by said frame.

10. A metallurgical furnace, comprising a rotatably mounted cylindrical working chamber, having an opening in an end thereof, a relatively non-rotatable door adapted to substantially close said opening, a waterjacketed opening in said door through which' any suitable. heating device may be introduced, a trolley moving on a track mounted transversely to and being a part of said door,

holding means for said heating device atcarrying said door is pivotally mounted for tached to said trolley, said trolley being moving said door in a direction transversely adapted to introduce or withdraw said heatof the axis of said chamber. 1" ing device from the working chamber of the In witness whereofI have signed this speci- 5 furnace, and a second track mounted above fication.

and transversely to the axis of said chamber,

provided with a trolley on which a frame ARTHUR J. BRIGGS. 

